ON 6 October , the Palace of Venaria hosted the launch of this new generation with the presentation of the first of the many ranges that will make up Generation 0 : the eWorker , Merlo ’ s first full-electric telehandler . This is a totally new engineering concept that will change the way people and materials are handled .

The eWorker is the result of years of research into an alternative solution to vehicles fitted with combustion engines . From the world ’ s first hybrid telehandler , which Merlo built in the early 2000s and which allowed it to gain experience in a new field , today the Merlo Group has taken another step forward . However , this is not the final destination , because the new generation , called “ Generation 0 ”, will grow into a family of more and more technological and performing green products , underlining the Group ’ s vocation to be “ innovators by tradition ”.

How “ Generation 0 ” Was Created

The creation of the new “ Generation 0 ” is based on four cornerstones common to all Merlo products :

1 . Performance - in terms of load capacity , transfer speed and boom movement

2 . Comfort - with the study of optimal driving positions for the operator 3 . Safety - for active and passive protection of the operator 4 . Efficiency - with a focus on reducing working time and operating costs . In addition to these cornerstones , Merlo has introduced three more , further enhancing driver comfort , reducing the impact on the surrounding environment and introducing the Generation 0 concept :

• 0 emissions

• 0 noise

• 0 use of fossil fuels

Three new pillars that limit the impact of the vehicle on the environment in which it operates and , even more so , on the health of the people who work with our products . The Merlo Group chose to take a new and unexplored route by creating vehicles that not only reduce noise and emissions , but also offer exceptional performance with ultra-compact dimensions to achieve a level of manoeuvrability never seen before in a telehandler .

Winning Characteristics

The Merlo Group developed the new eWorker to support its customers in all their daily activities , meeting the following operational needs :

• Offering high traction for off-road work and at the same time to be able to operate indoors and in areas where limited environmental impact is required

• Ensuring the possibility of travelling on public roads and , if necessary , towing trailers

• Improving standards of manoeuvrability and agility in the world of telehandlers

• Increasing the versatility of the vehicle by using new solutions and equipment

• Improving working conditions for both the operator and those working near the vehicle

• Reducing the total ownership costs and above all payback time

Technical News The eWorker has been designed with the aim of creating a machine that is :

• Full electric , but with the autonomy of a full working day

• Compact , with dimensions similar to those of an industrial forklift

• Equipped with a telescopic boom , setting a new working standard in the forklift industry

• With 4 ISO size , all-drive wheels of a size suitable for working not only indoors but also off-road in the construction and agricultural sectors .

The two solutions , with 2WD or 4WD , offer unique advantages and are designed to improve performance at work . The 2WD models have been designed to increase the autonomy of the machine , with a class-leading maximum encumbrance while steering of just 2850 mm , thanks to a steering angle of up to 85 °. The 4WD models , on the other hand , ensure maximum performance in terms of transmission , to guarantee excellent grip on all surfaces , even off-road .

Therefore , during the design phase , all the components and their positioning were reviewed :

The Right Solution For Every Company

The eWorker is designed to be used in different working environments and allows the use of a wide range of equipment including :

• Forks , floating and with side-shift ,

• Multiple bucket types

• Equipment for suspended loads such as lifting hooks , or fly jibs with hook or winch ,

• Equipment for other special applications such as concrete mixers and sweeper buckets

• Another important application is the aerial work platform with overhead self-propulsion . This arrangement will allow operators to drive directly from the aerial work platform , thus drastically reducing maintenance time at height .

All models can be customised to suit customers ’ needs .

With the eWorker , Merlo has opened up a new way of thinking and working in the world of industrial and agricultural lifting . This will allow all users to increase productivity , save money and enjoy a new driving experience .